ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

Objective To explore the predictive value of combined detection of serum interleukin-35(IL-35),proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9),and microRNA-155(miR-155)for sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS).Methods A total of 170 patients with sepsis admitted in the hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were selected.Patients were divided into MODS group and non-MODS group according to whether they developed secondary MODS within 28 days.Clinical data and serum levels ofIL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 were compared between the two groups.Pearson method and partial correlation coefficient were used to analyze the correlation between serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 and the severity of sepsis and the risk of MODS,and receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the pre-dictive value of serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 alone and in combination for MODS.In addition,83 patients with sepsis in the hospital from July 2023 to July 2024 were selected as external validation data sets for exter-nal validation.Results Age,percentage of patients with diabetes mellitus,quick sequential organ function as-sessment scale(qSOFA)score,acute physiology and chronic health status evaluation scale Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score,and serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 levels in the MODS group were higher than those in the non-MODS group(P＜0.05).Pearson method showed that serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 were positively cor-related with qSOFA score and APACHE Ⅱ score(P＜0.05).Partial correlation coefficient analysis showed that after excluding other factors,serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 were still significantly associated with the risk of MODS(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the combi-nation of serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 for predicting MODS was 0.907,which was greater than the AUC of each indicator alone.External validation ROC analysis showed that the AUC of combined detection of the three was 0.914.Conclusion The expression of serum IL-35,PCSK9,and miR-155 is significantly associated with the risk of sepsis-induced MODS.Combined detection has certain predictive value for the secondary de-velopment of MODS,and could be used as auxiliary indicators for clinical prediction for MODS,thereby guid-ing clinical prevention and treatment.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on gut microbiota and intestinal mechanical barrier in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and analyze the potential mechanism by which Xuebijing injection protects gastrointestinal tract.Methods:Twenty-four healthy and clean grade male C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups, control group, LPS group, LPS+ 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), and LPS+ 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), with six mice in each group. A mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of mice with 10 μg/g LPS. At 0 and 12 h after successful modeling, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5 or 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection. Blood, ileum, and colon fecal samples were collected 12 h after the second administration. ELISA was used to detect the levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-blood lactic acid (D-Lac), TNF-α, and IL-6. HE staining was used to observe the local ileum damage, and Chiu′s score was used to evaluate the degree of intestinal tissue damage. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, and zona occludins-1(ZO-1) in ileum tissues, followed by semi quantitative analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparisons, and LSD or Tamhane′s T2 test was used for pairwise comparisons based on the homogeneity of variance. The diversity and species composition of mouse fecal microbiota, and the differences among groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.Results:The levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the LPS group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.000 1). After the intervention with Xuebijing injection, the levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased (all P<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those in the control group (all P>0.05). Besides, 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection was more effective than 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection in reducing the concentrations (all P<0.05). Chiu′s score was higher in the LPS group than in the control group and the 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (both P<0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the LPS group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01), and Xuebijing injection intervention significantly increased the expression levels of these proteins in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the LPS group (all P<0.000 1). Apart from the expression level of ZO-1, which showed no significant difference between the two Xuebijing injection groups ( P>0.05), the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with those of Western blot. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that there were differences in the Alpha and Beta diversity indices, and the composition and structure of gut microbiota among the four groups. The structure of gut microbiota in the mice treated with Xuebijing injection was similar to that in the mice of the control group and it was in a dose-dependent manner. Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that there were statistically significant differences in six gut microbiota groups at the phylum level, and 32 gut microbiota groups at the genus level among the mice of four groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Xuebijing injection can provide protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract by protecting the structure of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and the protective effect is somewhat correlated with the drug dosage.

Objective:To develop a risk prediction model for moderate to severe orthodontic-induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) of maxillary incisors based on cone beam CT (CBCT) radiomics features and clinical characteristics of the orthodontic patients.Methods:Clinical and CBCT data from 101 orthodontic patients treated by the same attending orthodontist in the Department of Orthodontics, Stomatology Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2019 to January 2024 were retrospectively collected. The sample included 42 class Ⅰ patients, 52 class Ⅱ patients and 7 class Ⅲ patients [age: (19.7±6.3) years], and a total of 394 maxillary incisors were analyzed. Potential influencing factors for moderate to severe OIIRR (root volume resorption rate≥10%) were collected from the patients′ CBCT and medical records, including initial age, gender, treatment duration, Angle′s classification, extraction or not, type of orthodontic appliance (fixed or clear aligner), changes in root inclination, root movement distance and direction, pre-treatment cephalometric measurements, pre-treatment root-bone relationship, pre-treatment root length, and pre-treatment radiomics features of the teeth. Univariate analysis was initially performed to screen for factors influencing moderate to severe OIIRR. Subsequently, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, best subset regression, and random forest were used for feature selection to construct the OIIRR risk prediction model. The discrimination, calibration, and net benefit of the three risk prediction models were evaluated, and the optimal model was displayed using a nomogram.Results:LASSO regression identified clinical features including initial age (LASSO coefficient 0.052), treatment duration (LASSO coefficient 0.024), pre-treatment root length (LASSO coefficient -0.023), and vertical root movement distance (LASSO coefficient -0.029). Initial age and treatment duration were positively correlated with the severity of OIIRR, while root length and vertical root movement distance were negatively correlated. A total of 14 radiomics features were identified, including 2 original image features and 12 wavelet features. Best subset regression identified vertical root movement distance as the clinical feature and 7 radiomics features, including 1 original image feature and 6 wavelet features. The random forest model identified 8 wavelet features as important predictors, and all of which were radiomics features. Model performance evaluation showed that the random forest model had the highest discrimination, calibration, and net benefit, making it the optimal model, with radiomics features being the most important predictors.Conclusions:Based on the data from this study, radiomics features were identified as the most important predictors by the optimal model for OIIRR risk prediction. Predicting the occurrence of moderate to severe OIIRR before orthodontic treatment held potential clinical application value.

Objective In this paper,CiteSpace(V6.3.R1)was used to sort out and summarize the experimental study on the mechanism and development trend of acupuncture intervention in Alzheimer's disease(AD),so as to provide basis and suggestions for subsequent research.Methods Relevant literatures on the mechanism of acupuncture intervention in AD were retrieved from CNKI database from March 1997 to March 2024.CiteSpace(V6.3.R1)software was used to visually display keywords,draw corresponding maps,and discuss the hot spots of acupuncture intervention mechanism in AD.Results After screening,a total of 397 articles were included in this study.The mechanism of acupuncture intervention in AD mainly focuses on the regulation of synaptic plasticity,regulation of neurotransmitter release,regulation of neuroinflammation,regulation of apoptosis,influence on mitochondrial autophagy,anti-oxidative stress and so on.Conclusion Acupuncture intervention in AD has developed rapidly,involving Notch1/Hes signaling pathway,Shh signaling pathway,NF-κB signaling pathway,PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and other signaling pathways.The research heat of TCM acupuncture intervention in AD continues to rise,and various research teams have harvested rich research results,diversified research hotspots,and in-depth exploration of acupuncture treatment of AD has rich clinical value.

GBA1 gene mutation is an important genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This paper reports a case of a 43-year-old male PD patient carrying a rare heterozygous Thr408Met mutation in the GBA1 gene identified through whole-exome sequencing, leading to a diagnosis of GBA1-associated PD. The patient’s motor symptoms were primarily characterized by bradykinesia and rigidity, without significant cognitive decline. Treatment with low-dose levodopa combined with a dopamine agonist resulted in significant symptomatic improvement.

Objective:To develop a risk prediction model for moderate to severe orthodontic-induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) of maxillary incisors based on cone beam CT (CBCT) radiomics features and clinical characteristics of the orthodontic patients.Methods:Clinical and CBCT data from 101 orthodontic patients treated by the same attending orthodontist in the Department of Orthodontics, Stomatology Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2019 to January 2024 were retrospectively collected. The sample included 42 class Ⅰ patients, 52 class Ⅱ patients and 7 class Ⅲ patients [age: (19.7±6.3) years], and a total of 394 maxillary incisors were analyzed. Potential influencing factors for moderate to severe OIIRR (root volume resorption rate≥10%) were collected from the patients′ CBCT and medical records, including initial age, gender, treatment duration, Angle′s classification, extraction or not, type of orthodontic appliance (fixed or clear aligner), changes in root inclination, root movement distance and direction, pre-treatment cephalometric measurements, pre-treatment root-bone relationship, pre-treatment root length, and pre-treatment radiomics features of the teeth. Univariate analysis was initially performed to screen for factors influencing moderate to severe OIIRR. Subsequently, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, best subset regression, and random forest were used for feature selection to construct the OIIRR risk prediction model. The discrimination, calibration, and net benefit of the three risk prediction models were evaluated, and the optimal model was displayed using a nomogram.Results:LASSO regression identified clinical features including initial age (LASSO coefficient 0.052), treatment duration (LASSO coefficient 0.024), pre-treatment root length (LASSO coefficient -0.023), and vertical root movement distance (LASSO coefficient -0.029). Initial age and treatment duration were positively correlated with the severity of OIIRR, while root length and vertical root movement distance were negatively correlated. A total of 14 radiomics features were identified, including 2 original image features and 12 wavelet features. Best subset regression identified vertical root movement distance as the clinical feature and 7 radiomics features, including 1 original image feature and 6 wavelet features. The random forest model identified 8 wavelet features as important predictors, and all of which were radiomics features. Model performance evaluation showed that the random forest model had the highest discrimination, calibration, and net benefit, making it the optimal model, with radiomics features being the most important predictors.Conclusions:Based on the data from this study, radiomics features were identified as the most important predictors by the optimal model for OIIRR risk prediction. Predicting the occurrence of moderate to severe OIIRR before orthodontic treatment held potential clinical application value.

Objective In this paper,CiteSpace(V6.3.R1)was used to sort out and summarize the experimental study on the mechanism and development trend of acupuncture intervention in Alzheimer's disease(AD),so as to provide basis and suggestions for subsequent research.Methods Relevant literatures on the mechanism of acupuncture intervention in AD were retrieved from CNKI database from March 1997 to March 2024.CiteSpace(V6.3.R1)software was used to visually display keywords,draw corresponding maps,and discuss the hot spots of acupuncture intervention mechanism in AD.Results After screening,a total of 397 articles were included in this study.The mechanism of acupuncture intervention in AD mainly focuses on the regulation of synaptic plasticity,regulation of neurotransmitter release,regulation of neuroinflammation,regulation of apoptosis,influence on mitochondrial autophagy,anti-oxidative stress and so on.Conclusion Acupuncture intervention in AD has developed rapidly,involving Notch1/Hes signaling pathway,Shh signaling pathway,NF-κB signaling pathway,PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and other signaling pathways.The research heat of TCM acupuncture intervention in AD continues to rise,and various research teams have harvested rich research results,diversified research hotspots,and in-depth exploration of acupuncture treatment of AD has rich clinical value.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on gut microbiota and intestinal mechanical barrier in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and analyze the potential mechanism by which Xuebijing injection protects gastrointestinal tract.Methods:Twenty-four healthy and clean grade male C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups, control group, LPS group, LPS+ 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), and LPS+ 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), with six mice in each group. A mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of mice with 10 μg/g LPS. At 0 and 12 h after successful modeling, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5 or 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection. Blood, ileum, and colon fecal samples were collected 12 h after the second administration. ELISA was used to detect the levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-blood lactic acid (D-Lac), TNF-α, and IL-6. HE staining was used to observe the local ileum damage, and Chiu′s score was used to evaluate the degree of intestinal tissue damage. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, and zona occludins-1(ZO-1) in ileum tissues, followed by semi quantitative analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparisons, and LSD or Tamhane′s T2 test was used for pairwise comparisons based on the homogeneity of variance. The diversity and species composition of mouse fecal microbiota, and the differences among groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.Results:The levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the LPS group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.000 1). After the intervention with Xuebijing injection, the levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased (all P<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those in the control group (all P>0.05). Besides, 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection was more effective than 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection in reducing the concentrations (all P<0.05). Chiu′s score was higher in the LPS group than in the control group and the 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (both P<0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the LPS group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01), and Xuebijing injection intervention significantly increased the expression levels of these proteins in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the LPS group (all P<0.000 1). Apart from the expression level of ZO-1, which showed no significant difference between the two Xuebijing injection groups ( P>0.05), the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with those of Western blot. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that there were differences in the Alpha and Beta diversity indices, and the composition and structure of gut microbiota among the four groups. The structure of gut microbiota in the mice treated with Xuebijing injection was similar to that in the mice of the control group and it was in a dose-dependent manner. Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that there were statistically significant differences in six gut microbiota groups at the phylum level, and 32 gut microbiota groups at the genus level among the mice of four groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Xuebijing injection can provide protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract by protecting the structure of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and the protective effect is somewhat correlated with the drug dosage.